Puzzle



(No Model.)

P. J. WOOS'T'ER.

PUZZLE.

NO. 432,589. Patented July 22,1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK J. IVOOSTER, OF IVATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 432,589, dated July 22, 1890.

Application filed May 13, 1889- gerial No. 310,615. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, FREDERICK J. WoosTER, of \Vaterbury, in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Puzzles; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connec tion with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full,

' clear, and exact description of the same, and

which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a top view; Fig. 2, a vertical central section of the same; Fig. 3, a modification in the shape of the surface of the table.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of puzzles which consist of a table having one or more marbles or balls free to revolve thereon, the puzzle being to locate such one or more balls at a predetermined point.

The object of the invention is a puzzle to employ a single marble or ball, and which, while possible to be accomplished, presents considerable difficulty to such accomplishment; and it consist-s in a bed or table, the surface of which is of convex shape, having a rim around its edge, the center or apex havingacavity formed therein of a size sufficient to locate a marble when it shall reach that czwity, and as more fullyhereinafter described.

The table A is preferably of circular shape, and around its edge is a rim B. The surface of the table A is made of substantially convex shape, and in the center or apex a cavity a is formed,which is adapted to receive a marble or ball, which is to be employed. Z), Fig. 2, represents the ball. The convex surface gives to the ball or marble an inclination to the outside of the table. A rotary motion of the ball around the table also gives under centrifugal force a tendency of the ball to the outer edge of the table.

The puzzle is to locate the marble or ball in the center, as indicated in broken lines, Fig. 2, and owing to the natural tendency of the ball to fly away from this cavity the lodgment of the ball in the center is very difficult to accomplish.

\Vhile I prefer to make the surface of the table convex, it may be made of conical shape,

as seen in Fig. 3, and accomplish the same result-that is, the natural tendency of the ball away from the central cavity. By the term convex surface, therefore, I wish to be understood as embracing any surface having a general inclination from the central cavity outward. The rim B is em liloyed only as a protection to prevent the escape of the ball.

I claim 1. A toy or game, the same consisting of a box Whose bottom is convex and smooth and is provided with a central depression, and a ball adapted to travel upon the bottom of said box, the whole adapted to be held in. the hand and manipulated to dilferent planes, substantially as set forth.

2. A device of the character described, the same consisting of a circular rim, a concaveconvex plate arranged within said rim and having a central depression adapted to form a resting-place for the spherical object, but otherwise smooth and unobstructed, and a ball larger than said depression and adapted to move over the surface of the plate, the

Whole adapted to manipulation by the hand, as

specified,

FREDERICK J. WOOSIER. WVitnesses:

JOHN E. EARLE, FEED O. EARLE. 

